We unveil the 21st annual Burlington Free Press All-State football offensive team

Dec. 12, 2010

We’ve assembled a squad that will light up a scoreboard and fill the highlight reel in the process.

The Burlington Free Press once again took on the fun yet challenging task of identifying the top high school football players in Vermont. We looked at all three divisions, all four classes and each section of the state.

Our offense will give defensive coordinators nightmares.

Quarterback Christian McCormick of Rice Memorial has a rocket for an arm, is mobile and racks up touchdowns. Imagine how dangerous he’d be with these weapons. Speedy receivers Austin Robinson, Mike Triller and Mike DiMambro combined for 28 touchdown catches this fall; crafty running backs Connor DeVarney and Trevor Wood ran for 35 touchdowns.

McCormick and the running backs would have even more room to work with behind this dominant line, whose size strength and versatility in the trenches is invaluable.

On the rare occasions this unit came up short of the end zone, Tucker Kohlasch’s strong leg would surely keep the points flowing.

The first team

Christian McCormick

Rice Memorial Senior quarterback 6-foot-2, 190 pounds

* The Player: The fleet, strong-armed quarterback propelled the Green Knights to the Division II state title, throwing for 2,619 yards and 37 touchdowns during a 10-1 season. The maestro in Rice’s dynamic spread offense, McCormick tossed only thee interceptions in 262 attempts while rushing for 357 yards and three scores. Gatorade’s Vermont player of the year, McCormick tossed for 303 yards and four touchdowns in the title game and has attracted interest from several college programs.

* Coach Neil Brodeur on McCormick: “He’s just been fantastic. ... When he was on the field, we had confidence something spectacular was going to happen. He put the team on his back when he had to.”

Connor DeVarney

South Burlington Junior running back 6-foot, 220 pounds

* The Player: South Burlington’s prolific offense started with DeVarney, who amassed 407 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in the Rebels’ playoff-clinching victory over Essex in the regular-season finale. In all, DeVarney ran for 1,620 yards and 19 touchdowns while catching 30 balls for 295 yards and four more scores. Two more eye-popping stats: He accounted for 44 percent of the team’s touchdowns and 42 percent of the team’s total yards.

* Coach Joe McDonald on DeVarney: “It’s definitely his vision. He finds the open space. He was a captain for us this year — a great kid, good leader.”

Trevor Wood

Hartford Senior running back 6-foot-1, 200 pounds

* The Player: Wood didn’t carry the ball often but tore off huge chunks of yardage when he did. The leader of Hartford’s potent ground attack, Wood struck for 1,582 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns during the Hurricanes’ Division I championship campaign. He converted speed and force into an average of about 14 yards a carry and was impressive in the North-South all-star game. He also made the most of his three receptions: 114 yards and a touchdown.

* Coach Mike Stone on Wood: “He’s the fastest kid on our team. He’s so good in the open field. For a tall kid he gets a lot of yards after contact.”

Mike DiMambro

Essex Senior receiver 5-foot-11, 165 pounds

* The Player: More of a deep threat and secondary option during Essex’s championship run in 2009, DiMambro was the go-to receiver this fall, hauling in 39 catches for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns. Fighting injury setbacks — an ankle that healed early in the season and a thumb problem that lingered — DiMambro never complained and kept to the daily grind. A track sprint champion, DiMambro’s 19 career TDs are second all-time at Essex.

* Coach Charlie Burnett on DiMambro: “He had a year full of adversity. I was amazed by his mental toughness. He led through his actions and was willing to do whatever it took. ... He was able to take his focus in track and transfer it over (to football).”

Austin Robinson

Rice Memorial Senior receiver 6-foot-2, 185 pounds

* The Player: One of the fastest wideouts in the state, Robinson reeled in a dozen touchdown receptions for the Division II champions. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown and had another score as a defensive back after an interception. His jumping ability was just as handy on the gridiron as it will be for the Rice basketball team this winter. Saving one of his best performances for last, Robinson caught seven balls for 108 yards and two TDs in the title game.

* Coach Neil Brodeur on McCormick: “He could fly. What impressed me most was the yards he got after catching the ball. If he had a couple steps on a defender he was gone.”

Mike Triller

Rutland Senior receiver 6-foot-3, 175 pounds

* The Player: The Raiders’ top offensive threat, Triller amassed 630 yards with 37 receptions and scored six touchdowns despite being a focus of opponent’s game plans. A captain on a young team, the three-sport standout is a Division I coaches first-team all-star and played in the North-South game. He has the ability to play at the college level, according to his coach.

* Coach Mike Norman on Triller: “He put up some stats. He can run, jump and is just really athletic. Teams that were playing us were doubling up coverage on him. Great kid.”

Ryan Crowley Colchester

Senior lineman 5-foot-10, 205 pounds

* The Player: A hard-working, no-excuses type of player, Crowley excelled as an offensive lineman in Colchester’s run-first style. A two-year varsity player, he was asked to do plenty on a daily basis and never complained. What coach Tom Perry called a prototypical lineman, Crowley could be used as a lead blocker, a puller or a trapper in the Lakers’ system. He also competed in the North-South game.

* Coach Tom Perry on Crowley: “He’s phenomenal. He’s the kind of person you want to play OL. He was an offensive lineman at heart. ... Nothing is good enough for Ryan.”

Cullen Howrigan

BFA-St. Albans Senior lineman 5-foot-10, 225 pounds

* The Player: A two-year starter, Howrigan’s size and agility helped the Bobwhites to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the Division I championship game. The Bobwhites’ game plans typically revolved around the run and Howrigan, along with his linemates, were instrumental in creating running lanes for a slew of capable backs. One of the team’s leaders, Howrigan also played linebacker and defensive end — whatever was needed given the situation.

* Coach Geoff Murray on Howrigan: “He’s the most intelligent lineman we have. He grew as a leader and led by example. He was extremely athletic with some size.”

Luke Lendway

Fair Haven Senior lineman 6-foot-2, 240 pounds

* The Player: The team’s top offensive lineman the last two seasons, Lendway adjusted the fastest to the coaches’ new spread offense. Lendway also overcame an early-season shoulder injury — he missed the season opener — to shine mainly at the right guard position for a Slater program that rallied during the second half of the season and made the Division II playoffs. Excellent footwork and athleticism were key for Lendway, who also plays on the Fair Haven basketball team.

* Coach Ryan Audet on Lendway: “Luke’s a house. He’s natural a strong kid. He’s very athletic and he moves extremely well — that sets him apart. He looked like he had been doing (the spread offense) for four years.”

Bobby Murray

Hartford Senior lineman 6-foot, 190 pounds

* The Player: Murray had a lot do with Hartford possessing one of the most dangerous ground attacks in the state as the Hurricanes rolled to the Division I championship. He has the ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line and is also a bone-crunching linebacker. His size, strength and football savvy were instrumental in helping Hartford backs tear off huge chunks of yardage.

* Coach Mike Stone on Murray: “If you watch the game, he stands out even as a lineman. He run very well for a lineman.”

Pete Wagner

Spaulding Senior lineman 6-foot-2, 300 pounds

* The Player: While Wagner was a quick-thinking, intelligent lineman, his brute strength was undeniable. Coming off the line, his run-blocking was second to none. A third-and-short situation? Spaulding was running on Wagner’s side, and for good reason — he was getting the movement needed for the first-down conversions. Wagner played in the North-South game.

* Coach John Callahan on Wagner: “He was a real force — I thought, one of the better lineman from a pure run-blocking standpoint. He’s definitely as good as any other lineman in the state. When we needed yardage, we felt we could (run) behind him.”

Tucker Kohlasch

Champlain Valley Junior, kicker 5-foot-10, 170 pounds

* The Player: A former soccer player, Kohlasch provided Champlain Valley an additional option: He could kick. Among Kohlasch’s six field goals this season was a 42-yarder — and he nearly made a 52-yarder. He also made 25 point-after attempts. CVU coach Jim Provost sees limitless potential for the junior, who also stopped several potential touchdown returns with timely tackles. Kohlasch also plays basketball and baseball.

* Coach Jim Provost on Kohlasch: “He was just an absolute weapon to have, offensively and defensively. He came out for spring practice .. he was booming 40-yard field goals like he just fell out of bed. He also had some touchbacks and that just added to the field-position battle.”